1956–57 Birmingham City F.C. season explained

Club:Birmingham City F.C.
Season:1956–57
Manager:Arthur Turner
Chairman:Harry Morris Jr
Stdtitle:Ground
Stadium:St Andrew's
League:Football League First Division
League Result:12th
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Semi-final
(eliminated by Manchester United)
Cup2:Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Cup2 Result:Semi-final
Season Topscorer:Alex Govan (30)
Highest Attendance:57,827 vs Nottingham Forest, FA Cup sixth round, 2 March 1957
Lowest Attendance:23,747 vs Manchester City, 27 April 1957
Average Attendance:32,444
Pattern La1:_whiteborder
Pattern B1:_vneckwhite
Pattern Ra1:_whiteborder
Pattern Sh1:_sides_on_white
Pattern So1:_hoops_white
Leftarm1:000099
Body1:000099
Rightarm1:000099
Shorts1:000099
Socks1:000099
Prevseason:1955–56
Nextseason:1957–58

The 1956–57 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 54th in the Football League and their 30th in the First Division. They finished in 12th position in the 22-team division. They entered the 1956–57 FA Cup at the third round proper and lost in the semi-final to Manchester United. In the inaugural edition of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Birmingham finished top of their group so progressed to the semi-final.[1]

Twenty-four players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were thirteen different goalscorers. Goalkeeper Gil Merrick played in 49 of the 51 first-team matches over the season, and Alex Govan finished as leading goalscorer with 30 goals in all competitions, of which 24 were scored in the league.

Football League First Division

See main article: 1956–57 Football League.

DateLeague
position
OpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A
ScorersAttendance
18 August 195612thManchester UnitedAstyle=background:#ffcD2–2Govan, Jones og32,958
22 August 19566thPortsmouthHstyle=background:#cfcW3–1Astall, Govan 233,307
25 August 19563rdArsenalHstyle=background:#cfcW4–2Brown, Murphy 2, Govan37,197
29 August 19562ndPortsmouthAstyle=background:#cfcW4–3Govan 3, Astall25,686
1 September 19566thBurnleyAstyle=background:#fccL0–225,531
5 September 19562ndNewcastle UnitedHstyle=background:#cfcW6–1Kinsey, Murphy 2, Govan 332,506
8 September 19562ndPreston North EndHstyle=background:#cfcW3–0Govan 344,458
15 September 19563rdChelseaAstyle=background:#fccL0–140,530
22 September 19564thCardiff CityHstyle=background:#cfcW2–1Kinsey, Govan39,931
29 September 19566thWolverhampton WanderersAstyle=background:#fccL0–344,191
6 October 19566thBolton WanderersHstyle=background:#ffcD0–029,614
13 October 19566thLeeds UnitedAstyle=background:#ffcD1–1Larkin34,460
20 October 19566thLuton TownHstyle=background:#cfcW3–0Brown 2, Orritt31,783
27 October 19567thAston VillaAstyle=background:#fccL1–3Astall54,927
3 November 19566thBlackpoolHstyle=background:#ffcD2–2Astall, Govan35,597
10 November 19569thManchester CityAstyle=background:#fccL1–3Kinsey21,005
17 November 19566thCharlton AthleticHstyle=background:#cfcW4–2Brown, Kinsey, Astall, Murphy27,564
24 November 19565thSunderlandAstyle=background:#cfcW1–0Orritt33,807
1 December 19564thTottenham HotspurHstyle=background:#ffcD0–038,035
8 December 19567thEvertonAstyle=background:#fccL0–229,579
15 December 19565thManchester UnitedHstyle=background:#cfcW3–1Brown 2, Orritt36,146
22 December 19568thArsenalAstyle=background:#fccL0–428,644
25 December 19566thSheffield WednesdayHstyle=background:#cfcW4–0Brown, Murphy, Astall, Govan24,380
29 December 19565thBurnleyHstyle=background:#cfcW2–0Brown, Govan31,733
1 January 19576thNewcastle UnitedAstyle=background:#fccL2–3Brown, Govan29,383
12 January 19579thPreston North EndAstyle=background:#fccL0–119,430
19 January 19579thChelseaHstyle=background:#fccL0–130,157
2 February 19578thCardiff CityAstyle=background:#cfcW2–1Brown, Astall16,854
9 February 19578thWolverhampton WanderersHstyle=background:#ffcD2–2Astall, Govan45,915
20 February 19579thBolton WanderersAstyle=background:#fccL1–3Astall11,284
9 March 195710thEvertonHstyle=background:#fccL1–3Brown23,881
16 March 195712thBlackpoolAstyle=background:#fccL1–3Brown17,610
30 March 195713thCharlton AthleticAstyle=background:#fccL0–117,839
3 April 195713thLuton TownAstyle=background:#ffcD0–012,881
6 April 195713thSunderlandHstyle=background:#fccL1–2Brown24,548
10 April 195713thAston VillaHstyle=background:#fccL1–2Murphy29,853
13 April 195714thTottenham HotspurAstyle=background:#fccL1–5Astall33,512
20 April 195715thLeeds UnitedHstyle=background:#cfcW6–2Brown 2, Govan 3, Astall30,642
22 April 195714thWest Bromwich AlbionAstyle=background:#ffcD0–018,755
23 April 195713thWest Bromwich AlbionHstyle=background:#cfcW2–0Kinsey, Govan30,332
27 April 195712thManchester CityHstyle=background:#ffcD3–3Brown, Govan, Phoenix og23,747
29 April 195712thSheffield WednesdayAstyle=background:#fccL0–313,845

League table (part)

Pos!scope="col"
ClubPldWDLFAGAPts
10thAston Villa4214151355451.1843
11thWest Bromwich Albion4214141459610.9742
12thBirmingham City421591869691.0039
13thChelsea4213131673731.0039
14thSheffield Wednesday421662082880.9338
KeyPos = League position; Pld = Matches played;
W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost;
F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points
Source[2]

FA Cup

See main article: 1956–57 FA Cup.

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A
ScorersAttendance
Third round5 January 1957Carlisle UnitedAstyle=background:#ffcD3–3Murphy 2, Astall27,445
Third round replay9 January 1957Carlisle UnitedHstyle=background:#cfcW4–0Brown 2, Kinsey, Astall56,458
Fourth round26 January 1957Southend UnitedAstyle=background:#cfcW6–1Murphy, Govan 3, Cox, Lawler og28,964
Fifth round16 February 1957MillwallAstyle=background:#cfcW4–1Kinsey 2, Govan, Brown41,986
Sixth round2 March 1957Nottingham ForestHstyle=background:#ffcD0–057,827
Sixth round replay6 March 1957Nottingham ForestAstyle=background:#cfcW1–0Murphy36,486
Semi-final23 March 1957Manchester UnitedHillsborough, Sheffieldstyle=background:#fccL0–265,107

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

See main article: 1955–58 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

The last two group matches of the inaugural season of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup were completed during this season, as a result of which Birmingham qualified for the semi-finals, in which they were to play Barcelona the following season.

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A
ScorersAttendance
Group B3 December 1956Zagreb XIHstyle=background:#cfcW3–0Orritt, Brown, Murphy40,144
Group B17 April 1957Inter MilanHstyle=background:#cfcW2–1Govan 234,461

Appearances and goals

Numbers in parentheses denote appearances made or goals scored as a substitute.

Players marked left the club during the playing season.

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward

Players' appearances and goals by competition
NameLeagueFA CupFairs CupTotal
GoalsGoalsGoalsGoals
data-sort-value=1GK4007020490
data-sort-value=1GK20000020
data-sort-value=2FB802010110
data-sort-value=2FB10000010
data-sort-value=2FB30001040
data-sort-value=2FB4005020470
data-sort-value=2FB3607010440
data-sort-value=3HB71000081
data-sort-value=3HB1101000121
data-sort-value=3HB20000020
data-sort-value=3HB80100090
data-sort-value=3HB10000010
data-sort-value=3HB3707010450
data-sort-value=3HB3307020420
data-sort-value=3HB2705020340
data-sort-value=4FW401162104713
data-sort-value=4FW381673214720
data-sort-value=4FW4011data-sort-value=0.10 (1)05 (1)1
data-sort-value=4FW40000040
data-sort-value=4FW352474224430
data-sort-value=4FW10000010
data-sort-value=4FW28573data-sort-value=1.11 (1)036 (1)8
data-sort-value=4FW35764214312
data-sort-value=4FW20000020
data-sort-value=4FW1831011204
data-sort-value=4FW10000010

See also

References

General

Specific

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fairs' Cup 1956–58 . 16 March 2010 . Zea . Antonio . Haisma . Marcel . amp. 1 May 2012 . Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).
  2. Web site: Birmingham City 1956–1957: English Division One (old) Table . Statto Organisation . 1 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040544/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/birmingham-city/1956-1957/table . 4 March 2016 . dead . dmy-all .